I have had this little gadget for about 4 years, do not use it often but when I do it is worth the money I paid for it. In small venues when one can get a bounce the flash units can placed almost any where, for portraits and easy way to control the ratios. When I stick a 50mm it gets that focus fast, 50mm f/1.4 hunts in low light. I read the reviews and decided to comment as I saw one person who gave it a six and does not even own it. I gave it a ten but it is more deserving of a 9 because of the price.

Jul 1, 2010

sassOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Aug 22, 2005Location: DenmarkPosts: 0

Review Date: Nov 22, 2009

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7

Pros:

No wires any more, small size, low weight, most adjustment can be made from camera

Cons:

Flimsy builtquality, expensive battery-type, low reach of the light, no manual settings, no second curtain.

I've been using mine for about a year. The good thing is, that you don't have to use wires anymore, the ST-E2 is quite small on the camera compared to using a flash, and you have easy access to the functions it provides.
The reach of the light to the flashes is not impressive. Inside you have a 12 meters reach (35feet) and outside its limited to 8 meters (25 feet) in an 80 degree angle in front of your lens. This is limiting, especially if you want the flashes behind you. I haven't tried the full potential of the reach inside, but outside I would say the reach is much smaller than its announced in the manual. I've had difficulties to make a 3 meter reach outside.
The lower front of mine was lost the first day I used it, don't know how it happened, since it was on the camera all the time. I don't like the battery-type that is used in the ST-E2. Its way to expensive, why not use power from the camera or AA-batteries, which the flashes uses anyway.
The adjustment on the back, where you can balance several flashes in different groups works quite well, along with the highspeed sync. I do miss second curtain-sync, don't know why they didn't put that feature in there. I also miss the ability to do manual settings on the trigger, perhaps it can be done setting the flashes to manual.
If I had to do this again, I would have a serious look at pocket wizards instead, the radio-signal is way more powerful than the red light this one sends out has. The new ones does feature e-TTL, and there should be some chineese on the way also, which should offer the same.

Nov 22, 2009

tommyleongOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Feb 27, 2007Location: SingaporePosts: 145

Review Date: Sep 6, 2009

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 7

Pros:

small and light, Great add-on AF beam , (beam is wide n bright ) , Great range even in outdoor.( 30ft)

Cons:

No Manual Flash, no second curtain, no flash compensation,cant adjust zoom of slave flash, uses expensive and uncommon CR2 battery. CAnt see the adjustments in the dark.

Very small and tidy package for an add-on AF beam. Very useful for those pub and disco shoots. Where space can be tight.
Your flash can be mounted on an overhead beam and you are triggering them as you go.

No issue with built quality, but its not bomb-proof.

Its soooo light, you dont need to screw it down. I don't even bother with the "lock" pin. You must knock into someone to get it off.

Great range even in outdoor provided the slave is FACING it.

Lots of missing features. Very simple like 2nd curtain. ( cant be done with the body either ) No manual flash option. ( Manual flash is an option on 580EX )

No flash compensation dial. I like the quick dial on the 580EX. Not a biggie since most bodies can do flash compensation.

Sep 6, 2009

OkeyPlusOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Jul 11, 2005Location: N/APosts: 38

Review Date: May 27, 2009

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $300.00
| Rating: 7

Pros:

No more cords

Cons:

Flimsy mount, bulky construction, obscure battery, no second curtain

I see the ST-E2 as a necessary evil if you want to have off-camera ETTL flash without shelling out for PocketWizards. It works, at least for the scenarios it was designed to, but don't expect too much magic out of it.

As far as what annoys me about it, here are some things:

* It's bulky - I really think it could be shrunk quite a bit if Canon wanted to update the design

* The mount doesn't feel secure - it's just a pin that comes down. I would've preferred a tighter locking mechanism, like the screw ring on a flash or the lever on the OC-E3 cord. I shoot on the move, and I just don't feel comfortable shoving the camera in my bag or letting it dangle around too much with this thing on

* THERE IS NO SECOND CURTAIN SYNC. For me this is a real failure. I love the "shake and bake" style, letting the shutter drag and then crystalizing the subject right before it closes. In my opinion, most flash shots are either not affected or benefited by using second curtain. Looks like with Canon my options for this remain keeping the flash on-camera, or using the OC-E3 cord, which is intended for a bracket (yuck) and is too short and clumsy for holding the camera in one hand and flash in the other (or having someone else hold the flash, putting it on a stand...you get the idea)

* On-camera flash exposure compensation goes from -2 to +2 EV. On the flash, I can adjust it from -3 to +3. Why???

* Can't adjust flash zoom

* Can't switch the flash from ETTL to Manual

Here my gripe is not only with this transmitter, but with the entire Canon flash system. I was reading Joe McNally's book The Hot Shoe Diaries, and I got really jealous of all the control that Nikon flash system lets you do with their transmitter or master flash - like switching the flash from CLS (Nikon's ETTL) to manual, adjusting flash zoom, and pretty much every other setting - all without touching the slave flash. To be honest, I feel a little cheated after spending all this money on Canon's flash system and still feeling so limited.

May 27, 2009

Phil UKNetOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Oct 20, 2007Location: ThailandPosts: 0

Review Date: May 4, 2009

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8

Pros:

Dedicated, thus retains E-TTL/E-TTL II functionality. The battery-powered system is totally portable so you can use it in the middle of a field. The ratio control is a convenient way to adjust lighting.

Cons:

This is just one component off an off-camera lighting system and if you buy everything separately it starts to get expensive. It is low powered compared to studio lighting, and batteries run out.

I bought my ST-E2 when I started to get interested in off-camera lighting. I then needed to buy a lightstand, bracket and umbrella for my 550EX ... which was expensive. Had I continued down this path, I would then have needed to buy another Canon flash unit, another lightstand, etc etc. Buying all this stuff separately is not cheap.

I bought an entire budget studio lighting kit for less than I paid for the ST-E2 alone. The kit has three strobes, three light stands, two diffusing umbrellas, and all the accessories you need. It's not as portable (because it needs mains power) and I no longer have E-TTL, so getting the exposure right is a bit trickier but no big deal.

It was a cheap kit but it works very well and puts out a lot more light than the Canon dedicated system.

There are still occasions when I am shooting outside that I can find a use for the ST-E2, but for portrait work and product shots indoors, a cheap studio lighting kit was better and cheaper for me.

I bought the ST-E2 on a whim without thinking ahead long term as to what I wanted to achieve. If I had given it more thought, I wouldn't have bothered.

It is by no means a bad product but for what I wanted, a budget studio lighting kit gave me the best option for the best price.

Cheap in comparison to pocket wizards. Fairly reliable (I have not had mine fail yet). Can be used as a focus assist if metering manually. Gets the flash off camera!

Cons:

Odd battery - expensive and hard to find. Big, looks dated. No 2nd curtain sync. If using as a focus assist (no strobe) manual metering must be used as the camera still thinks theres a strobe attached and meters accordingly. Only operates two channels. Must keep line of sight (at least a bounce) with strobe. Pretty fragile looking body.

It gets the flash off camera whilst maintaining full ETTL, though I rarely use ETTL it is a nice feature to have when set-up speed is an issue. This is why I bought it and it meets my expectations, though canon should really update it...
Although a line of sight must be maintained with the strobes a bounced signal also works so this is rarely an issue (and could be solved with radio poppers). It would be better if the unit ran off AA batteries for convenience. My main gripes are the lack of second curtain sync and when using the ST-E2 as a focus assist only the camera still thinks a strobe is attached and so under exposes the shot.
All in all though I knew what I was buying and am pleased with the product - I'll definatley be in line for the ST-E3 though if it ever comes out. In my opinion the ST-E3 needs to run on AA batteries (or even AAA), have 2nd curtain sync, operate 3 groups, be smaller and more robust and most importantly, let the camera know when no strobe is attached!

Oct 18, 2008

Andre GoliOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Feb 20, 2007Location: CanadaPosts: 1819

Review Date: Oct 4, 2008

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $250.00
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Size, options, durability and efficacity

Cons:

Why is it not included in the camera !!!!!

I got that little thing for two years now.. Pretty happy with the duration of the battery (two years), except it would have been better with rechargeable standard batteries, since mine stopped working in the middle of a session and haven't any in stock since it is a very special battery....
Only pick on the hardware... that little red thing in the front just keep falling, have to glue it....
Canon, why it is not included with your camera... shame on you....
But overall, just judging it.. it is very efficient with your flashes... Lots of channels...

Oct 4, 2008

sivrajbmOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Mar 15, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 3430

Review Date: Jun 26, 2008

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $169.00
| Rating: 9

Pros:

Makes complex flash setups easy. Provides focus assist in low light. Can be used on camera while flash is on bracket.

Cons:

None really

Makes complex flash setups easy. Provides focus assist in low light. Can be used on camera while flash is on bracket. A very worthwhile gadget very useful...

Jun 26, 2008

jamato8OnlineImage Upload: On

Registered: Dec 23, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 2728

Review Date: Jul 31, 2007

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9

Pros:

Allows for field work that I could have never accomplished in the past.

Cons:

90 percent of the time it is accurate but not the other 10.

I have used this over the years having aquired it when first on the market and it has proved, most of the time, to be reliable and of great help in the field. I have used it in my visual anthropology and natural history photography with great success.

Jul 31, 2007

Nigel ParryOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Sep 4, 2006Location: United KingdomPosts: 0

Review Date: May 17, 2007

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8

Pros:

Small, works very well in low light, simple, easy to change ratios quickly with two flashes

Cons:

Not reliable in bright light, only line of sight in normal light, worst of all no 2nd curtain synch

Nice gizmo which I use mainly for getting a 580ex off camera without cords which tangle with everything else. In low light the communication with the flash is flawless as the IR control bounces pretty much wherever the flash is.

I have also used this to control two Speedlites (580ex, 430ex) and it worked well, especially as you can quickly change the ratios.

The one major flaw (are you listening Canon?) is that there does not seem to be any way of using this this and getting 2nd curtain synch.

May 17, 2007

porchratOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Sep 25, 2006Location: United StatesPosts: 0

Review Date: Sep 25, 2006

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $189.00
| Rating: 5

Pros:

Is great when it works, totally accurate ttl with the 5D and 580, allows just the right amount of flash via flash ex compensation dial or through underexposing ambient.

Cons:

Can't depend on, really frustrating. Canon costumer support claims they know of no issues with it although most people I talk to have problems with it, especially in sunlight.

For about the same price as a Pocket Wizard transmitter it would be nice if it could be trusted to work.

Sep 25, 2006

joeyseagerOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Sep 19, 2005Location: United KingdomPosts: 67

Review Date: Mar 1, 2006

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9

Pros:

Does exactly what it's supposed to - one of those accessories you discover and then couldn't do without. Makes multi-flash setups easy and studio-style lighting possible with your existing speedlights. Can be used for focus assist in dim light without putting subject off by firing bright white flash.

Cons:

Controls only group A and B but the Speedlight 580EX controls group C too. Battery very expensive but I don't know if it lasts well - it hasn't run out yet!

Yes you could use a 580EX to control your off-camera units but I prefer this little device which is much lighter on the camera, and when I'm using multiple flash units I rarely want one of them firing from the camera position - so it's much cheaper to buy an ST-E2 transmitter than yet another flash unit. The transmitter can stay on the camera and doubles nicely as a focus assist lamp which operates much more unobtrusively than the built-in system of my 350D which fires the main tube of the pop-up flash unit - and my subject thinks I've taken the picture and wanders off!

This is a great device that I wouldn't be without. Its coverage is usually not a problem indoors where the infra-red bounces off light walls but it's always worth checking that the system is going to work - there's a check button which fires the group A flashes and then the group B flashes so you can see it's all going to work.

Highly recommended.

Mar 1, 2006

go4itOffline[ X ]

Registered: Sep 2, 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 746

Review Date: Feb 4, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $189.00
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Amazing piece of "can't live with out it" equipment! Light weight, sensitive and HIGHLY portable. It ROCKS!

Cons:

Batteries are a little expensive. And it only works with Canon EOS "Type A" cameras. Someone needs to "unify" an incredible photo flash accessory such as this!!!!!!!!!

Simply does everything it was promised to do - - and more. No distance problems, no "bounce" problems. It's the dead-solid perfect way to do wireless multiple flash if you're a Canon EOS "A" owner.

Works best indoors but outdoors is no problem as long as you work within the proper range.

Works PERFECTLY with our 10D or 20D - - and, as a bonus - with our G3 PowerShot too!

If you have EOS "Type A" cameras with Canon "EX" flash units and do a lot of flash photography - especially multiple lighting set-ups - this should be in your arsenal or you've missed the boat.

AWESOME for remote-mounted fill-flash outdoors!!!

Impossible to over-compliment the ST-E2.

Feb 4, 2005

BlueEyesPhotoOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Jan 25, 2005Location: United StatesPosts: 461

Review Date: Feb 2, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8

Pros:

Allows me to place my flashguns off camera, which I use considerably when doing plants and botanical shots.

Cons:

No battery indicator, doesn't give me the "1,500" fires it claims, I on average get roughly 300-500.

A great addition to anyone using Canon's 420, 550, or 580 flashes. I've used this from fashion shots, to botanical and childrens portraits.

Feb 2, 2005

mbohunskyOffline[ X ]

Registered: Dec 30, 2004Location: CanadaPosts: 3668

Review Date: Jan 30, 2005

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $180.00
| Rating: 9

Pros:

Lets you make complex Speedlite setups in a breeze. Focuses in zero light. Battery seems to last forever.

Cons:

Expensive, looks dated, doesn't always trip flash.

I bought my ST-E2 from B&H in July. It was very cool to have your flash off-camera, for a while. After some time it lost the appeal and I sold it to a fellow member on this forum.

I would not hessitate at all to recommend the ST-E2 for anyone that takes a lot of multiple camera photos and does not wish to have a strobe on-camera. If you have a strobe on your camera, the ST-E2 becomes pretty useless as you can use the strobe as a master to trip the slaves.

One very cool feature is that you need not use it to trip off your strobes. You can set it in the hot shoe and the IR beam will help you autofocus in zero light. Very neat.

If you frequently use multiple strobes, I would look into Pocket Wizard as its radio is sure to work in places where the ST-E2 does not.

Still a good product but for a little more you can get a used strobe and have just as versitile a setup.

Jan 30, 2005

ParatimaOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Mar 21, 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 2113

Review Date: Oct 28, 2004

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $125.00
| Rating: 8

Pros:

Free of that blasted off-camera cord!

Cons:

Range less than radio units

Bought mine from a fellow FMer. Much of my flash shooting, with a 550EX and a 420EX, and soon to include a 580EX, is done without a flash on-body. Using the off-camera shoe cord limits you to a couple of feet. (Think of light stands being pulled over.) With the ST-E2, you have room to roam. Simple to use. Highly recommended unless you need the extra range provided by something like Pocket Wizard.